Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The Homeland Directive
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Mike Huddleston

Promo copy:

A new thriller from the author of the New York Times bestseller The Surrogates!

As a leading researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Laura Regan is one of the world’s foremost authorities on viral and bacteriological study. Having dedicated her career to halting the spread of infectious disease, she has always considered herself one of the good guys. But when her research partner is murdered and Laura is blamed for the crime, she finds herself at the heart of a vast and deadly conspiracy. Aided by three rogue federal agents who believe the government is behind the frame-up, Laura must evade law enforcement, mercenaries, and a team of cyber-detectives who know more about her life than she does—all while trying to expose a sinister plot that will impact the lives of every American.

Set in the Orwellian present, The Homeland Directive confronts one of the vital questions of our time: In an era when technology can either doom or save us, is it possible for personal privacy and national security to coexist?

Vendetti’s first major work since the magnificent Surrogates (don’t hate on it because of the awful movie) is a MUST read. I interviewed Vendetti (along with his The Surrogates cohort artist Brett Weldele) in 2009.

Abattoir #6
Created by Darren Lynn Bousman
Conceived by Michael Peterson
Written by Rob Levin & Troy Peteri
Pencils by Wayne Nichols
Colors by Andrei Pervukhin
Cover by Tae Young Choi

Promo copy:
The mysteries surrounding Jebediah Crone, the eerie old man who has singlehandedly succeeded in destroying Richard’s once-normal life, has all but unraveled . Driven to the edge of sanity, Richard sets out to finally confront Crone in a desperate, last-ditch effort to clear his name of false murder allegations, return to his family and reclaim his life. Will Richard succeed, or will he succumb to the unimaginable horrors hidden within the depths of the Abattoir?

Vault #1
Script by Sam Sarkar
Art by Garrie Gastonny
Cover by Bagus Hutomo

Promo copy:

A small team of treasure hunters struggles to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the ‘Graveyard of the North Atlantic’. Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature’s fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash from The Vault.

Graphic Novels/Comics received 8/2/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Nomads: Orbital Vol. 3
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for celebrations marking the end of the Human-Sandjarr wars, running security for the ceremonies. When an incident occurs between Malaysian fishermen and a nomadic alien species called the Rapakhun, they are brought in to investigate and to lead negotiations. But tensions are high, and something is killing the fish in the mangrove swamp. The two agents will have to contend with the humans’ lingering mistrust towards aliens in their efforts to solve the mystery.

Excellent space opera with beautiful art and intelligent writing. More later on this exciting book.

Valerian and Laureline: The Empire of a Thousand Planets
by J.-C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…

The Morning of the World: Yoko Tsuno Vol. 6
by Roger Leloup

Promo copy:

There is a volcano in Bali, the Agung, called “The Morning of the World” by the locals. And that’s where Yoko meets up with her cousin Monya—who couldn’t resist the temptation to use her time machine again. Her meddling with the past has caused a sacred dancer to be sentenced to death. To save the young woman and make things right, Yoko will have to travel back to 1350 AD and face the terrifying flying demons of the Agung…

Ravages: Orbital Vol. 4
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

The unexplained deaths in the mangrove have not deterred authorities: The ceremonies will go on as planned in Kuala Lumpur, despite Mezoke’s resistance and growing disagreement with Caleb. But the official optimism is soon dampened by news of further destruction, closer to the city. And when Nina and Angus return with the identity of the killer, an old enemy of the Confederation, the agents will be forced to act in desperation—and, maybe, to pay the ultimate price.

Graphic Novels received 8/2/11 Cinebook edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Nomads: Orbital Vol. 3
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for celebrations marking the end of the Human-Sandjarr wars, running security for the ceremonies. When an incident occurs between Malaysian fishermen and a nomadic alien species called the Rapakhun, they are brought in to investigate and to lead negotiations. But tensions are high, and something is killing the fish in the mangrove swamp. The two agents will have to contend with the humans’ lingering mistrust towards aliens in their efforts to solve the mystery.

Excellent space opera with beautiful art and intelligent writing. More later on this exciting book.

Valerian and Laureline: The Empire of a Thousand Planets
by J.-C. Mézières & P. Christin

Promo copy:

Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…

The Morning of the World: Yoko Tsuno Vol. 6
by Roger Leloup

Promo copy:

There is a volcano in Bali, the Agung, called “The Morning of the World” by the locals. And that’s where Yoko meets up with her cousin Monya—who couldn’t resist the temptation to use her time machine again. Her meddling with the past has caused a sacred dancer to be sentenced to death. To save the young woman and make things right, Yoko will have to travel back to 1350 AD and face the terrifying flying demons of the Agung…

Ravages: Orbital Vol. 4
Script by Sylvain Runberg
Art by Serge Pellé

Promo copy:

The unexplained deaths in the mangrove have not deterred authorities: The ceremonies will go on as planned in Kuala Lumpur, despite Mezoke’s resistance and growing disagreement with Caleb. But the official optimism is soon dampened by news of further destruction, closer to the city. And when Nina and Angus return with the identity of the killer, an old enemy of the Confederation, the agents will be forced to act in desperation—and, maybe, to pay the ultimate price.

Within reviewing circles, I’ve developed a reputation as a hater of most things. I don’t rely perceive myself that way but rather as a demanding critic. Realizing I might be wrong, I decided to do some research and see where the truth may lie.

This year, I reviewed 16 movies. Eight were good, six bad, and two neutral. Only four of the reviews didn’t match favorably with the metrics at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

My neutral reviews of the flawed but well received The Adjustment Bureau and Limitless garnered 72% and 70% respectively. If 50% is seen as neutral then still not a radical departure.

One good and one bad differed. The over top grindhouser Drive Angry achieved only a 45%. In my review, I called it a “high-octane 3-D love letter to the grindhouse creations of the legendary Roger Corman.”

Despite being mired in “92 minutes of boredom and stupidity,” The Mechanic somehow managed a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on quantity and comparison to the vast majority of reviewers, I’m not much of a hater. Then why the perception?

Perhaps it’s less the quantity of my hatred but rather my often vehement portrayal of it? My opinions are always clear and I do take great pride in creatively ripping inferior, overblown things apart.

What do y’all think?

Am I A Hater? was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Within reviewing circles, I’ve developed a reputation as a hater of most things. I don’t rely perceive myself that way but rather as a demanding critic. Realizing I might be wrong, I decided to do some research and see where the truth may lie.

This year, I reviewed 16 movies. Eight were good, six bad, and two neutral. Only four of the reviews didn’t match favorably with the metrics at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

My neutral reviews of the flawed but well received The Adjustment Bureau and Limitless garnered 72% and 70% respectively. If 50% is seen as neutral then still not a radical departure.

One good and one bad differed. The over top grindhouser Drive Angry achieved only a 45%. In my review, I called it a "high-octane 3-D love letter to the grindhouse creations of the legendary Roger Corman."

Despite being mired in "92 minutes of boredom and stupidity," The Mechanic somehow managed a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Based on quantity and comparison to the vast majority of reviewers, I’m not much of a hater. Then why the perception?

Perhaps it’s less the quantity of my hatred but rather my often vehement portrayal of it? My opinions are always clear and I do take great pride in creatively ripping inferior, overblown things apart.

What do y’all think?

After last months impressive of Star Treks, Rubber, Mad Men, and Lovecraft, this month’s meager selections are more of sputter than a full blown geekgasm. Given all the controversy surrounding the impending Sept. 1 rate hikes, you’d think Netflix would come out swinging this month.

* denotes streaming for the first time via Netflix.
* denotes streaming in HD

Premiering August 1:
Casper
Cyborg Soldier
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
The Dirty Dozen
Fallen (1998)
*Gothika
Jurassic Park III
*Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)
Lethal Weapon
*Leathal Weapon 2
Misery (1990)
The Mummy (1932)
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
*Scream 3
Spaceballs
*The Shaft (aka Down)
Sukiyaki Western Django
Videodrome
*Volcano Disaster
What Dreams May Come

Premiering August 2:
*Maniac! (1980)

Premiering August 5:
*13 Assassins (2010)

Premiering August 19:
*Dumbstruck (2010) A documentary on modern ventriloquists

Premiering August 20:
*Louie (2010) Season 1

Premiering August 25:
*The King of Fighters (2010)

Premiering August 26:
*Alpha and Omega (2010)
*Spirit of the Forest

Premiering August 28:
*The Expendables (2010)

Info courtesy of FeedFliks.

Impending Geekgasm on Netflix Instant Watch – August edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

After last months impressive of Star Treks, Rubber, Mad Men, and Lovecraft, this month’s meager selections are more of sputter than a full blown geekgasm. Given all the controversy surrounding the impending Sept. 1 rate hikes, you’d think Netflix would come out swinging this month.

* denotes streaming for the first time via Netflix.
* denotes streaming in HD

Premiering August 1:
Casper
Cyborg Soldier
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
The Dirty Dozen
Fallen (1998)
*Gothika
Jurassic Park III
*Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)
Lethal Weapon
*Leathal Weapon 2
Misery (1990)
The Mummy (1932)
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
*Scream 3
Spaceballs
*The Shaft (aka Down)
Sukiyaki Western Django
Videodrome
*Volcano Disaster
What Dreams May Come

Premiering August 2:
*Maniac! (1980)

Premiering August 5:
*13 Assassins (2010)

Premiering August 19:
*Dumbstruck (2010) A documentary on modern ventriloquists

Premiering August 20:
*Louie (2010) Season 1

Premiering August 25:
*The King of Fighters (2010)

Premiering August 26:
*Alpha and Omega (2010)
*Spirit of the Forest

Premiering August 28:
*The Expendables (2010)

Info courtesy of FeedFliks.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Rebel at the End of Time
by Steve Aylett with additional material by Michael Moorcock
Cover by Mo Ali

Promo copy:

21st-century revolutionary Leo finds himself at the End of Time, surrounded by decadent sorcerers whose childlike incomprehension is his worst nightmare. How to be effective when consequence is removed? What can have meaning when everything is transformed into fashion? Can love exist here? Leo storms through this lurid land in search of meaning, a cause, and a meal he can recognise.

Wow.. the third new Aylett book this summer! And set in one of my favorite Moorcock universes. Excellent.

The Goblin Corps
by Ari Marmell
Cover by Lucas Graciano

Promo copy:

Morthul, the dreaded Charnel King, has failed.
Centuries of plotting from the heart of the Iron Keep, deep within the dark lands of Kirol Syrreth—all for naught. Foiled at the last by the bumbling efforts of a laughable band of so-called heroes, brainless and over-muscled cretins without sense enough to recognize a hopeless cause when they take it on. Machinations developed over generations, schemes intended to deliver the world into the Dark Lord’s hands, now devastated beyond salvation. But the so-called forces of Light have paid for their meddling with the life of Princess Amalia, only child of the royal family of Shauntille.

Now, as winter solidifies its icy grip on the passes of the Brimstone Mountains, disturbing news has reached the court of Morthul. King Dororam, enraged by the murder of his only child—and accompanied by that same group of delusional upstart “heroes"—is assembling all the Allied Kingdoms, fielding an army unlike any seen before. The armies of Kirol Syrreth muster to meet the attack that is sure to come as soon as the snows have melted from the mountain paths, but their numbers are sorely depleted. Still, after uncounted centuries of survival, the Dark Lord isn’t about to go down without a fight, particularly in battle against a mortal! No, the Charnel King still has a few tricks up his putrid and tattered sleeves, and the only thing that can defeat him now…may just be the inhuman soldiers on whom he’s pinned his last hopes.

Welcome to the Goblin Corps. May the best man lose.

Low Town
by Daniel Polansky

Promo copy:

Drug dealers, hustlers, brothels, dirty politics, corrupt cops … and sorcery. Welcome to Low Town.

In the forgotten back alleys and flophouses that lie in the shadows of Rigus, the finest city of the Thirteen Lands, you will find Low Town. It is an ugly place, and its cham­pion is an ugly man. Disgraced intelligence agent. Forgotten war hero. Independent drug dealer. After a fall from grace five years ago, a man known as the Warden leads a life of crime, addicted to cheap violence and expensive drugs. Every day is a constant hustle to find new customers and protect his turf from low-life competition like Tancred the Harelip and Ling Chi, the enigmatic crime lord of the heathens.

The Warden’s life of drugged iniquity is shaken by his dis­covery of a murdered child down a dead-end street … set­ting him on a collision course with the life he left behind. As a former agent with Black House—the secret police—he knows better than anyone that murder in Low Town is an everyday thing, the kind of crime that doesn’t get investi­gated. To protect his home, he will take part in a dangerous game of deception between underworld bosses and the psy­chotic head of Black House, but the truth is far darker than he imagines. In Low Town, no one can be trusted.

Daniel Polansky has crafted a thrilling novel steeped in noir sensibilities and relentless action, and set in an original world of stunning imagination, leading to a gut-wrenching, unforeseeable conclusion. Low Town is an attention-grabbing debut that will leave readers riveted … and hun­gry for more.

The Restoration Game
by Ken MacLeod
Cover by Stephan Martiniere

Promo copy:

There is no such place as Krassnia. Lucy Stone should know – she was born there. In that tiny, troubled region of the former Soviet Union, revolution is brewing. Its organisers need a safe place to meet, and where better than the virtual spaces of an online game? Lucy, who works for a start-up games company in Edinburgh, has a project that almost seems made for the job: its original inspiration came from The Krassniad – an epic tale, based on Krassnian folklore, concocted by Lucy’s mother who studied there in the 1980s. As Lucy digs up details about her birthplace to slot into the game, she finds her interest in the open secrets of her family’s past – and the darker secrets of Krassnia’s – has not gone unnoticed. When a Russian – Georgian border war breaks out, Lucy has to move fast – and return to Krassnia herself, to the heart of the mountain that holds Krassnia’s darkest and oldest secret. But nothing Lucy has discovered can possibly prepare her for the crucial role she is destined to play in The Restoration Game.

Books received 7/29/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Rebel at the End of Time
by Steve Aylett with additional material by Michael Moorcock
Cover by Mo Ali

Promo copy:

21st-century revolutionary Leo finds himself at the End of Time, surrounded by decadent sorcerers whose childlike incomprehension is his worst nightmare. How to be effective when consequence is removed? What can have meaning when everything is transformed into fashion? Can love exist here? Leo storms through this lurid land in search of meaning, a cause, and a meal he can recognise.

Wow.. the third new Aylett book this summer! And set in one of my favorite Moorcock universes. Excellent.

The Goblin Corps
by Ari Marmell
Cover by Lucas Graciano

Promo copy:

Morthul, the dreaded Charnel King, has failed.
Centuries of plotting from the heart of the Iron Keep, deep within the dark lands of Kirol Syrreth—all for naught. Foiled at the last by the bumbling efforts of a laughable band of so-called heroes, brainless and over-muscled cretins without sense enough to recognize a hopeless cause when they take it on. Machinations developed over generations, schemes intended to deliver the world into the Dark Lord’s hands, now devastated beyond salvation. But the so-called forces of Light have paid for their meddling with the life of Princess Amalia, only child of the royal family of Shauntille.

Now, as winter solidifies its icy grip on the passes of the Brimstone Mountains, disturbing news has reached the court of Morthul. King Dororam, enraged by the murder of his only child—and accompanied by that same group of delusional upstart "heroes"—is assembling all the Allied Kingdoms, fielding an army unlike any seen before. The armies of Kirol Syrreth muster to meet the attack that is sure to come as soon as the snows have melted from the mountain paths, but their numbers are sorely depleted. Still, after uncounted centuries of survival, the Dark Lord isn’t about to go down without a fight, particularly in battle against a mortal! No, the Charnel King still has a few tricks up his putrid and tattered sleeves, and the only thing that can defeat him now…may just be the inhuman soldiers on whom he’s pinned his last hopes.

Welcome to the Goblin Corps. May the best man lose.

Low Town
by Daniel Polansky

Promo copy:

Drug dealers, hustlers, brothels, dirty politics, corrupt cops . . . and sorcery. Welcome to Low Town.

In the forgotten back alleys and flophouses that lie in the shadows of Rigus, the finest city of the Thirteen Lands, you will find Low Town. It is an ugly place, and its cham­pion is an ugly man. Disgraced intelligence agent. Forgotten war hero. Independent drug dealer. After a fall from grace five years ago, a man known as the Warden leads a life of crime, addicted to cheap violence and expensive drugs. Every day is a constant hustle to find new customers and protect his turf from low-life competition like Tancred the Harelip and Ling Chi, the enigmatic crime lord of the heathens.

The Warden’s life of drugged iniquity is shaken by his dis­covery of a murdered child down a dead-end street . . . set­ting him on a collision course with the life he left behind. As a former agent with Black House—the secret police—he knows better than anyone that murder in Low Town is an everyday thing, the kind of crime that doesn’t get investi­gated. To protect his home, he will take part in a dangerous game of deception between underworld bosses and the psy­chotic head of Black House, but the truth is far darker than he imagines. In Low Town, no one can be trusted.

Daniel Polansky has crafted a thrilling novel steeped in noir sensibilities and relentless action, and set in an original world of stunning imagination, leading to a gut-wrenching, unforeseeable conclusion. Low Town is an attention-grabbing debut that will leave readers riveted . . . and hun­gry for more.

The Restoration Game
by Ken MacLeod
Cover by Stephan Martiniere

Promo copy:

There is no such place as Krassnia. Lucy Stone should know – she was born there. In that tiny, troubled region of the former Soviet Union, revolution is brewing. Its organisers need a safe place to meet, and where better than the virtual spaces of an online game? Lucy, who works for a start-up games company in Edinburgh, has a project that almost seems made for the job: its original inspiration came from The Krassniad – an epic tale, based on Krassnian folklore, concocted by Lucy’s mother who studied there in the 1980s. As Lucy digs up details about her birthplace to slot into the game, she finds her interest in the open secrets of her family’s past – and the darker secrets of Krassnia’s – has not gone unnoticed. When a Russian – Georgian border war breaks out, Lucy has to move fast – and return to Krassnia herself, to the heart of the mountain that holds Krassnia’s darkest and oldest secret. But nothing Lucy has discovered can possibly prepare her for the crucial role she is destined to play in The Restoration Game.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Dearly, Departed
by Lia Habel

Promo copy:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble … and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Resistance: A Hole in the Sky
by William C. Dietz

Promo copy:

The official prequel to the blockbuster videogame Resistance 3

America. July 1953.

In this official prequel to Resistance 3, prospects are not looking up for planet Earth or Lieutenant Joseph Capelli. With the Chimera invasion in full swing, America has crumbled under the fierce alien juggernaut, its defenses overrun, millions dead, the rest left to fend for themselves. Many try to avoid the alien virus that turns humans into Chimeran killing machines.

Capelli may be a pariah to the army for killing hero Nathan Hale, but he is still a patriot fighting to save the country and its citizens. However, some soldiers are ready to shoot him on sight—not to mention that Hale’s beautiful sister has every reason in the world to want him stone dead. But Capelli’s used to being in dangerous situations and taking crazy risks. And the next move he intends to make is pure suicide.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Ascension
by Christie Golden
Cover by Ian Keltie

Promo copy:

How long can the Jedi remain in power?
How far will the Sith go to rule supreme?
What chance do both stand against Abeloth?

As Luke and Ben Skywalker pursue the formidable dark-side being Abeloth, the Lost Tribe of the Sith is about to be sundered by an even greater power—which will thrust one Dark Lord into mortal conflict with his own flesh-and-blood.

On Coruscant, a political vacuum has left tensions at the boiling point, with factions racing to claim control of the Galactic Alliance. Suddenly surrounded by hidden agendas, treacherous conspiracies, and covert Sith agents, the Jedi Order must struggle to keep the GA government from collapsing into anarchy.

The Jedi are committed to maintaining peace and ensuring just rule, but even they are not prepared to take on the combined threats of Sith power, a deposed dictator bent on galaxywide vengeance, and an entity of pure cunning and profound evil hungry to become a god.

Books received 7/29/11 Del Rey edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon